Handtruck

ABSTRACT

The disclosure hereof is of a handtruck which includes a load support mounted on a wheel and axle assembly, with a handle unit likewise connected to said wheel and axle assembly, both pivotally related, and means to interconnect the said support and handle unit for simultaneous movement, in various adjusted positions so that the handtruck and its load may be manipulated either to maintain the load support at a generally level attitude, or to change the same depending upon the type of load to be carried thereon, the adjustment being effected by simple means which are manipulatable from the handle unit as may be necessary or desirable.

United States Patent Mackey [4 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] HANDTRUCK 3,157,411 11/1964 Rhodes ..280/47.29

[72] Inventor: Chlrlu L. Mickey, Boynton Beach, Fla. FOREIGN PATENTS 0APPLICATIONS 1 Assisnw Trio c e 3= 2 667,386 2/1952 Great Britain..280/47.29

pally, nc., l oug y, 10 Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh [22] Ffled' 1969Assistant Examiner-Leslie .l. Paperner [2]] Appl. No.: 884,964Attorney-Robb & Robb [52] U.S. Cl. ..280/47.29, 280/47.l7 [57] ABSTRACT[51] Int. Cl. ..B62b 1/12 The di closure hereof is of a handtruck whichincludes a load [58] Field Search ..280/47.17, 47.24, 47.27, 47.28, ppmounted n a wheel and l ly, h a h n 230/4729 47 37 unit likewiseconnected to said wheel and axle assembly, both pivotally related, andmeans to interconnect the said support 56] References Cited and handleunit for simultaneous movement, in various adjusted positions so thatthe handtruck and its load may be UNITED STATES PATENTS manipulatedeither to maintain the load support at a generally level attitude, or tochange the same depending upon the type 57 l i Thomas of d to be carriedthereon the adjustment eflected [AS4364 2/1924 X simple means which aremanipulatable from the handle unit as 2,198,918 4/1940 Merci].......280/47.27 may be necessary or desirable 2,392,955 1/1946Stalcup... ..280/47.29 2,903,082 9/1959 Marcus ...280/47.37 X 1 Claims,5 Drawing Figures 'PAIENTEBMAR 11912 7 INVENTOR. CTLIARLES L -A/IOCKE vI-IANDTRUCK THE INVENTION A principal object of the invention herein, isto provide a handtruck which will have varying leverage positions toraise the load to be carried thereby from one position into another, orto maintain the same in substantially the initial attitude duringtransport, with various adjusted positions possible to be carried out sothat depending upon the load-the relationships sought may be establishedand maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handtruck which is ofsimple construction, involving a load support pivoted to a wheel andaxle assembly, a handle unit likewise pivoted thereto with simple meansto interconnect the same in varying positions for transport purposes aswell as leverage purposes.

Another object of the invention is to construct a handtruck in which thevarious elements will be as simple as possible, the interconnectingmeans being controllable from adjacent one of the handle portionsusually associated with such handtrucks, and positive interconnection ofthe respective parts being effected as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handtruck in which aload support of substantial extent is provided, and which may be used toraise and lower various loads from positions adjacent the floor or otherposition in which the handtruck is to be transported, so that whereheavy loads are involved it can be raised just slightly from the floorand yet control of the handtruck effected during transport operationthereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from aconsideration of the specification appended hereto and disclosed in thedrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the handtruck of this invention in oneposition.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the handtruck of this invention ina different position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of portions of the means tointerconnect the handle unit and load support.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, taken from the right-hand side of FIG. 3,and further illustrating the interconnecting means.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the handle members and side railsof the handle unit.

The handtruck of this invention comprises a handle unit generallydesignated 1, which includes a pair of spaced side rails 2 and 3preferably of round, tubular configuration being spaced one from theother by means of spacer bars 4, 5 and 6, and at the lower extremity ofsaid side rails 2 and 3, a suitable beam 7 interconnects the same.

At the lower ends of the rails 2 and 3, suitable brackets such as 8 and9 being provided, and as indicated in FIG. 3, these brackets such as 8for example, are pivotally mounted on an axle 10, which axle extendstransversely of the lift truck and includes wheels 11 and I2 thereon,the axle and wheels comprising a wheel and axle assembly generallydesignated 13.

The load support generally designated 14 comprises a support member 15of any preferred configuration, in this instance generally rectangularhaving the openings 16 therein to lighten the same, with an upstandingback portion 17, preferably integral with the part 15.

Extending rearwardly so to speak from the load support 14 are suitablearm parts indicated in dotted lines at 17 for example in FIG. 3, and infull lines in FIG. 4, but only fragmentarily disclosed therein.

These arm parts 17 are in turn fastened to an axle housing I8 which is atubular member extending from side to side of LII the lift truck, andbeing secured to the arm parts 17 as by welding at 19. It will beapparent therefore that the arm part 17 will facilitate the pivotalmovement of the load support 14 about the axle l0.

Intermediate the arm part 17, is a latch plate 20 shown in elevation inFIG. 3 as havinfia series of notches 21, 22 and 23 therein, it beingremembere that the latch plate 20 is securely fastened to the housing 18as by the welding indicated at 24.

Suitably mounted on the beam 7 to a dog 25 by means of spaced pivotalmembers 26 having a pivot 27 extending therebetween and upon which thedog 25 is mounted. The dog 25 is guided by means of the guide parts 28at one end, these parts likewise being fixed to the beam 7 with a springindicated at 29 engaged in a socket 30 at one end, and pressing againstthe beam 7 at the other, whereby a maintain the dog 25 in the positionshown in FIG. 4, whereby the end 31 thereof is engaged with the notch 23for example.

The other end of the dog 25 designated 32, is arranged to be engaged bythe extremity of a trigger bar 33 which extends up through the side rail3 as indicated in FIG. 5, so that its upper end is engaged by a trigger34, pivotally mounted at 35 on the side rail 3 adjacent the handgripportion 36 of said side rail.

It should be noted that the lower end of the trigger bar 33 includes anarm extension 37 integral with the bar 33, and extending outwardly so asto engage with the end 32 of the dog 25.

It will therefore be understood that by manipulation of the trigger 34,the bar 33 may be pushed downwardly for example with the arm 37 at theend thereof engaging the dog 25 to move the same about the pivot 27 andeffect disengagement of the end 31 of said dog with the latch plate 20whereby relative adjustment of the hand unit 1 and load support 14 maybe effected.

It will be understood that varying positions of the load support andhandle unit are desirable to effect because of the weight perhaps of theobject being transported, or for other reasons which may occur to theoperator of the device.

I claim:

I. In a handtruck of the class described, in combination, a wheel andaxle assembly including an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, ahousing member mounted on said axle, laterally spaced arm parts securedto said housing at one end. a load support pivotally connected to thewheel and axle assembly, the load support being mounted at the other endof said housing from the spaced arm parts to provide for pivoting of thesupport on the axle, a latch plate secured to said housing for movementtherewith, a handle unit mounted on the axle assembly including handgripportions and side rails connected together by transverse parts, thehandgrip portions being remote from the connection of said unit and theaxle, the ends of the rails having brackets fastened thereto andpivotally engaging the axle, and control means extending from adjacentat least one handgrip portion to dog means interconnecting the latchplate and handle unit, said dog means connecting said units in varyingpivoted positions with respect to one another, the dog means comprisinga dog pivotally mounted on the handle unit, the control means comprisinga pivotally mounted trigger at the said one hand portion, a rigidtrigger bar extends from said trigger to one side rail to a pointadjacent one end of the dog, downward pushing movement of said triggerbar effecting pivotal movement of the dog and disengagement of the samefrom the latch plate whereby to disengage the said means from the latchplate to vary the pivotal positions and enable pivotal movement of saidsupport on said axle.

1. In a handtruck of the class described, in combination, a wheel andaxle assembly including an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, ahousing member mounted on said axle, laterally spaced arm parts securedto said housing at one end, a load support pivotally connected to thewheel and axle assembly, the load support being mounted at the other endof said housing from the spaced arm parts to provide for pivoting of thesupport on the axle, a latch plate secured to said housing for movementtherewith, a handle unit mounted on the axle assembly including handgripportions and side rails connected together by transverse parts, thehandgrip portions being remote from the connection of said unit and theaxle, the ends of the rails having brackets fastened thereto andpivotally engaging the axle, and control means extending from adjacentat least one handgrip portion to dog means interconnecting the latchplate and handle unit, said dog means connecting said units in varyingpivoted positions with respect to one another, the dog means comprisinga dog pivotally mounted on the hAndle unit, the control means comprisinga pivotally mounted trigger at the said one hand portion, a rigidtrigger bar extends from said trigger to one side rail to a pointadjacent one end of the dog, downward pushing movement of said triggerbar effecting pivotal movement of the dog and disengagement of the samefrom the latch plate whereby to disengage the said means from the latchplate to vary the pivotal positions and enable pivotal movement of saidsupport on said axle.